Electrical-discharge device



May 25 1926. 1,586,199

G. HOLST ET AL ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1921 Patented May '25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

QILLES HOLST, EKKO OOSTERHUIS, AN D JOHANNES BRUIJNES, OF EINDHOVEN, NETH- EBLANDS, ASSIGNOBS TO NAAMLOOZE VENNOOTSCHAP PHILIPS GLOEILAMPEN- IAIBBIEKEN, OI EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS.

EECTBIGAL-DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Application filed November 4, 1921. Serial No. 512,890.

The invention relates to electrical discharge devices with independent discharge having a gaseous filling and particularly revlates to dlscharge devices for rectifying al- '5 ternating currents in which the discharge has the character of a glow discharge.

An independent discharge is an electric discharge which is started simply by sup plying a suitable alternatin or d rect current-tension to the electro es without requiring cathode incandescence or any auriiliary device, to liberate electrons or ions in the path of the discharge, such as characterize X-rays or ultraviolet-rays.

-The object of the invention is to provide a new type of the device described which is simple and rugged in its construction.

Contrary to the opinion expressed in current literature, ithas been found that in a 20 discharge tube the disruptive voltage is not independent of the material of the electrodes, especially of the material of thecathode.

When thedistance between the electrodes is not too great, or the gas pressure is rela-' tively small, the disruptive voltage for any given gas, principally depends on the material of the electrodes.

According to this invention use is made of charge tube, filled with a so called rare gas,

such as argon and is provided with two electrodes of different materials, e. g., magnesium" and a relatively refractory material such as iron. The disruptive voltage now is considerably smaller, when'the magnesium constitutes the cathode than when the iron forms the cathode. Thus it will be'clear,

that when this rectifier tube is connected to 40 'a suitable source of alternating voltage, current can only ass when the magnesium forms the catho e, so that a rectifying effect is obtained. Aninsulatingsereen isplaced between the electrodes to preserve the cath- Odin a inst destructive ddisi ntegratiigpgl'l e accompanym rawlng a ar device is diagrammatl cally illustrated able for rectifying current and provided with electrodes of difl'erent material according to the invention.

One embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawing, consists of a sealed vessel 1 consisting of glass or the like, a cathode 2 'of magnesium and an anode 3 A of iron.

Cathode and anode are connected to ourrent-conveying conductors 6 and 7 j sealed into stems 8 and 9. In order to prevent disintegration of cathode to anode and of anode to cathode which would cause the rectifying properties to be reduced a shield 4 may be provided between the electrodes. This shield may be supported by any suitable means, e. g., by two stems 5. The shield may eonsist of mica or any other suitable insulating material. The gaseous filling of the tube may consist of argon or another rare gas; and the device may be ada ted for use with a voltage of 110 volts, for lnstance, the electric discharge in the tube having the char acter of a glow-dischrage.

The device described and'illustrated may be considered as a referable embodiment of the invention, but 1t will be obvious to ersons skilled in the art that various modi cations will be possible within the scope of the followingclalms.

What we claim is.

1. An electrical glow-discharge device with independent discharge adapted for rectifying alternating currents, comprising an envelope, a rare gas therein, two electrodes of difierent material so chosen that the disruptive tension is different in one direction than in the other and a shield of insulating material interposed between said electrodes.

2. An electrical glow discharge device with independent discharge adapted for rec-. tifying alternating currents, comprising an envelope, a rare gas therein, two electrodes, one 0 said electrodes consisting of magnesium, the other of a relativel refracto material and a shield of insulating material interposed between said electrodes.

'3. An electrical discharge device adapted for rectifying alternating currents, 'comprie ing the combination of an envelope, a filling and an anode of iron and a shield of mica 10 of rare gas therein, two electrodes of difierinterposed between said cathode and said ent material within said envelope and a anode.

shield of insulating material interposed be In testimony whereof we aflix our signatween said electrodes. tures.

4. An electrical discharge device adapted for rectifying alternating currents, com rising the combination of an envelope, a g

of rare gas therein, a cathode of magnesium GILLES HOLST.

EKKO OOSTERHUIS. JOHANNES BRUIJNES. 

